Health Minister highlights blood donors' role in saving life
Source: IT News

Imphal, June 27 2018: Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jayantakumar, today highlighted the importance of donating blood on World Blood Donor's Day 2018 held to felicitate state-level milestone blood donors at a function organised at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) hall at Lamphel, in Imphal today.

The theme of the blood donation day was 'Be there for someone else, give blood share life' .

The 'Go to village' program is working out well in his constituency, the Minister said while adding that the doctors who gave their views on the blood donor's day were all experts and called for rational thinking in promoting the blood donation programs in the state.

It was necessary to know the antecedents of blood donors, the Minister said hinting at the necessity of DNA mapping for this work.

Blood and air are proof of the presence of god according to the Meitei explanation, he said adding that it is never asked who the blood would be given to.

The social stigma attached to HIV patients receiving blood donation at blood donation camps is evident, the Minister said citing the instance of a camp held at his kendra where around 200 people were present but it was thought that too much blood had already been collected and more was not required for the day.

Stating that there are at present blood banks at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), one at Churachandpur, and another at Bishenpur, the Minister said people are still troubled by the shortage of blood, adding that it could be that a human need was still being denied to them.

The quantity of blood available, the role of the technicians performing the transfusion and the way people from far off places are not given the hospital services properly is a deplorable fact, he said while commenting on the way components required in the blood meant for transfusion were most of the time set according to the market for such components.

False assurances from incompetent doctors are aplenty, he said relating the example of a doctor in his kendra who remained too close to the nurses wasting time with them leading to less than standard treatment.

Also speaking on the occasion, Vandana Devi, IAS, stated that the capacity of the blood banks at Senapati, Bishenpur and Chandel would be increased and two NGOs, including one in Imphal east would get monetary help.

Younger donors would be encouraged in future, she said.

Blood safety expert S Ibongochouba of the Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MSACS), said that blood transmission to AIDS patients should be without motivation.

Prof.Brogen Singh, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) regretted that the function was to be held on June 14 but could only take place today while stating that there was shortage of blood because of which there had been some deaths even.

He said that donors above the age of 60 years are not allowed to donate blood and at the same time called for non-discriminatory and non-remunerative blood donations.

A prize distribution function was held at the end of the world blood donor day and students from various schools who took part in a painting competition given away prizes.

Comment